October week and Highers

[lookingfineanddrinkingwine]

After some advice please. We didn't get a summer holiday and we hoped to go away the October week (just up North probably).
My DD is now in s5 and will do 5 highers this year with view to going to uni.

My friend said I was mad to go away in the October break as she will have so much work to do. I didn't do highers so no experience of workload. I don't want to disadvantage her by going away. Prelims are normally just before Christmas.
We would all love the break after a crap couple of years. Did your children doing highers need to study on their week off school?

No.

Easter is a different matter, it's often very close to the exams.

But I am a firm believer that kids need to have a life as well as study, and down time is essential too. Teachers at our school recognise that too and only set minimal homework over the break. Go on the family break and have a lovely time.

Oh for god sake, your friend's poor kids if she's not allowing them any holidays. They'll be on their knees by May!
We went abroad for October holidays when DC1 in S5.
And Thank goodness we did as COVID got in way after that. Would do it with next one if we can if COVID allows.

Her prelims were in Jan but we went to stay with relatives for few days over Christmas, and she just had to make sure she studied every day we were at home in Christmas holidays.
Big no no in our house is going away at Easter in the exam years, definitely wouldn't do that but everything else fine.

Check with the school. My DD went to a school that pre covid was light on assessments. They generally only did mock tests after October and prelims after Christmas no other assessments or marked homework. Didn't stop us going away in October though and didn't stop DD working full time at her part time job over the Christmas holidays. However meant that her prelims marks were a good bit lower than her actual marks. Only mattered in S6 in 2020 when school predicted everything based on October and Christmas tests. DSes went to a different school where there was no testing after October and prelims were pre Christmas so all good holiday wise. As for Easter I agree with other posters maybe not for Highers but okay for national 5s particularly if Easter early.

No it’s a good time to go. Quite often prelims are after Christmas and February/Easter too close to the actual exams. I’m a Higher teacher and won’t be setting much, if anything, over October half term.

Go. Everyone needs a break - teachers and pupils included. I teach in a secondary and would not set any homework at all over the October break. Pupils are advised to go away and have a proper break, and come back refreshed to be ready for the slog to come. Hope you get a break booked and have a lovely time.

Thanks everyone. I've taken your advice and booked a week in lodge up north!
We can't wait.